Controlled Burn at George LeStrange Preserve in Fort Pierce

Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Kevin Reilly (right), an Indian River State College Fire Academy student from Martin County, walks alone the back side of a fire line with Ben Pauley (center bend flames), of the St. Lucie County Environmental Resource Department, during a controlled burn with the Florida Forest Service at the George Lestrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday. Approximately 10 acres of the park were burned to control future wildfire risk during wildfire season. "If we do a small prescribed fire, then we can reduce the effects of a wildfire on this preserve," said Melissa Yunas, Florida Forest Service Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. "If a wildfire does go through and we don't manage the land properly then we're going to see a lot of trees killed like we just saw in north St. Lucie County . We need to start managing the land so the fires are small and less impactive on the environment."

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Indian River State College Fire Academy student Lauren Hedden (front), of Stuart, learns to create a fire break using hand tools during a controlled burn with the Florida Forest Service at the George Lestrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday. IRSC students helped with the controlled burn of 10 acres as part of a training exercise. "It's hard work'" Hedden said.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS A line of fire divides the grass from the burn during a Florida Forest Service controlled burn at the George Lestrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS A line of fire divides the overgrown grass from the burn during a Florida Forest Service controlled burn at the George Lestrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from a controlled burn by the Florida Forest Service at the George LeStrange Preserve along Rails Road in Fort Pierce on Friday April 26, 2013.